Small Claims - New Jersey Superior Court

1 New Jersey Judiciary Small Claims Superior Court of New Jersey Law Division Special Civil Part Small Claims Section Small Claims Revised 04/2018, CN 10290 page 1 The Small Claims section is a Court in which you can sue a person or business (the defendant) to collect a Small amount of money that you believe is owed to you. The procedures in Small Claims are simpler than in other courts, persons usually can file and present their cases relatively quickly and inexpensively, and often without an attorney. This brochure explains how to file a complaint, an appeal and gives general information about Small Claims in New Jersey .

2 Small Claims Section Small Claims is one of three sections of the Superior Court 's Special Civil Part. The other two sections are landlord/tenant and regular Special Civil Part. Separate brochures are available for these sections. Small Claims handles cases in which the demand is not more than $3,000 or $5,000 if the demand is for the return of a tenant s security deposit. These are the monetary limits of Small Claims . If the amount of money you are trying to recover is more than the monetary limits but less than $15,000, your case should be filed in the regular Special Civil Part. Cases in which damages are more than $15,000 must be filed in the Law Division of the Superior Court .

3 If you believe you are entitled to damages greater than the monetary limits but still want to sue in Small Claims , you give up your right to recover damages over the monetary limits. The additional money cannot be claimed later in a separate lawsuit. Typical Claims Filed Following is a general list of Claims which can be filed in Small Claims : Breach of a written or oral contract. Return of money used as a down payment. Property damage caused by a motor vehicle accident. Damage to or loss of property. Consumer complaints for defective merchandise or faulty workmanship. Payment for work performed. Claims based on bad checks.

4 Claims for back rent. Return of a tenant's security deposit not to exceed $5,000. Claims That Cannot Be Filed The following is a general list of Claims that cannot be filed in Small Claims : Claims arising from professional malpractice, such as alleged malpractice by a doctor, dentist or lawyer). Claims for support or alimony from a marital or a domestic dispute. Claims arising from a probate matter, such as a will. Where Do I File A Small Claims Complaint? A complaint must be filed in the Office of the Special Civil Part of the county where at least one defendant lives or where the defendant business is located.

5 A business defendant is considered located in a county wherever it is actually doing business or in the county where its registered office is located. If there is more than one defendant, the complaint can be filed in the county where any one of the Small Claims Revised 04/2018, CN 10290 page 2 defendants lives or is located. If none of the defendants live or are located in New Jersey , the complaint must be filed in the county where the cause of the action arose or where it started. Note: A complaint for the return of a security deposit can be filed in the county where the landlord lives or where the landlord s rental property is located.

6 Who May File A Small Claims Complaint? To sue in Small Claims , a person must be 18 years of age or older. If the person suing is under the age of 18, the complaint must be filed by the parent or guardian. Filing a Small Claims Complaint A Small Claims summons and complaint form and instructions on how to complete them is available in any New Jersey Special Civil Part Office and at The summons and complaint can be filed through the mail or in person at the appropriate Special Civil Part Office (see Where Do I File a Small Claims Complaint. ) When filing a complaint, you, as the plaintiff, must: Give your full name, address and telephone number.

7 To ensure proper service of the complaint, give the correct name(s) and address(es) of the person(s) named as the defendant(s) in the complaint. It is important that the defendant be properly identified as an individual, a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation. State the amount of money for which you are suing. State the reason why the defendant(s) owes you money. State whether at the present time there is any other case involving both you and the other party(ies) and, if so, the name of the Court . State whether you will need an interpreter and specify in which language. State whether you have a disability requiring special accommodations.

8 Sign and date the completed form. Pay the correct filing and service fees when filing the summons and complaint with the Special Civil Part Office. If you pay less than what is required, it will be returned to you. Do not provide the Court with any party s confidential personal identifiers in the complaint. These include any party s full Social Security number, driver s license number, vehicle plate number, insurance policy number, active financial account number or active credit card number. Submit this information only if it s required by law, Court order, rule or administrative directive. Do not submit or redact any of this information on your originals.

9 Submit the last four digits of any active financial account number to the Court only if it is the subject of the litigation and cannot otherwise be identified. Upon filing and service of a summons and complaint, all of the parties, all defendants and plaintiffs named in the summons and complaint, will be notified of the trial date by the Court . If the defendant does not appear for trial, the plaintiff will have a default entered by the Court . The Court could decide on the day of trial the amount of money, if any, to be awarded to a plaintiff. This is called the entry of a judgment by default. However, the plaintiff must provide satisfactory proof as to the amount of money due and owing and prove that the individual defendant is not an active member of the military.

10 Proof of non-military service does not apply to business defendants. A pro se packet Small Claims Revised 04/2018, CN 10290 page 3 providing detailed instructions on how to apply for a default judgment is available in any New Jersey Special Civil Part Office and at If the complaint is for money damages caused by a motor vehicle accident and the judgment requires a defendant to pay more than $500, the defendant must pay within 60 days. If the defendant does not pay within the 60 days, the plaintiff can request through the Special Civil Part Office that the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission stop the defendant's driving and registration privileges until the judgment is paid.